String adjustment for violins and the like



A. J. OETTING ER. STRING ADJUSTMENT FOR VIOLINS AND Tl'iE LIKE.-

APPLICATIOYN FILED AUG,3I. 1920. 1, Patented 00t.10,192-2.

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fivefzior:

Patented Oct. v1 0, 1922.

; UNITED, STATES ADOIiPH J. OETTINGER, O3? BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

STRING ADJUSTMENT non VIOLINS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed August 31, 1920. Serial No. 407,172.

Violins and the like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a'specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relatesto stringed musical instruments and more particularly to violins though-it is also adapted to other instruments'of a more or less similar construction. The object of the invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the tension. of a string from the tail-piece of the violin or like instrument. In the use of steel wires for the E string of a violin it is difficult to obtain an accurate adjustment of the tension adjusting pegs or pins at the end of the neck and it has therefore been a practice to provide a supplemental and finer adjustment for the E string located on the tail piece of the violin. Devices for this purpose have hitherto, so far as known to me, however, been located at the side of the tail piece adjacent the E string and have also projected inward from the tail piece with the result of shortening the E string to some extent which is an objectionable feature. The location of the adjusting device at the side of the tail piece is objectionable in that it imposes an undue strain at the edge of the.

tail piece from the relatively high tension of the E string and the location of an adjusting stem or head projecting at a side of the tail piece also makes the tail piece appear unsymmetrical and of a makeshift character. In accordance with my invention I provide means located on the tail piece for efiecting a fine adjustment of the E string but so dispose this device that it is located entirely within the tail piece and thus does not,

shorten the E string, and also so that the tension adjustment draws inward of, the tail piece toward the center thereof instead of outward at the side, and, with an operating head or stem located transversely central of the tail piece in a position so that it is symmetrical with reference thereto and improves, rather than detracts from the appearance of the tail piece. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the inven t-ion will more fully appear from the following detailed description, and the distinctive PATENT OFFICE. 1

features of novelty will be thereafter pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a violin equippe with the invention; i

Fig. 2 is a relatively enlarged elevation showing the tail piece equipped with the invention and removed from the violin;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged sectional View on line 3-3of Fig. 2; and

Fig. l is a bottom plan view of the adj usting device itself removed.

10 indicates a violin of the usual construction with the ordinary adjusting pegs or pins 11 and a tail piece 12. In accordwhich may be held in place by a stud 14L fitted through the tail piece and screwed into said bar. The bar 13 extends diagonally from the side of the tail piece at which theE string is secured thereto, to the transverse center of the tail piece where the stud 14: is located. The front end of this bar is preferably located in approximate transverse alinement with the holes in which the strings are secured and its extremity has a slot therein which is preferably of a key shape having a wider inner portion 15 and a narrower outer portion 15% crank lever 16 to fulcrum against the narrow end thereof. For this purpose the bell crank lever 16 has an upper projecting end thereof which constitutes a round pin 16 flattened as indicated at 16 so as to fit the narrow portion of the slot 15 and thus be held from vertical or forward displacement. The pin 16 of the bell crank lever 16 may extend up through the hole of the tail piece provided for securing the string as shown, or a separate opening might be made therefor. The upper end of this pin has the E string fixed thereto as shown so that the string is thus of substantially the same length as the other strings. The bell crank lever 16 has its other arm IG 'eXtending inwardly beneath the bar 13 to a point directly under the stud l t where it is en a ed In this slot is fitted a bell by a screw stem 17 equipped with a kri ufled its movement lengthwise of the tail piece as required for tensioning the E string. I do not desire to be limited to the precise means shown for tensioning the E string, since other equivalent means might be substituted, the essential feature being the provision of means for tensioning the E string without shortening the length thereof and tending to draw inward of the tail piece with the tension, and having an operating head or button symmetrical with reference to the tail piece. The present embodiment is therefore to be understood as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a tail piece of a violin or the like, of means borne thereby for tensioning a string comprising a string engaging pin located adjacent one side of the tail piece and within the end thereof substantially in transverse alinement with the terminals of the other strings, and an operating device for said pin symmetrically located with reference to the tail piece in proximity to the transverse center thereof.

2. The combination with a tail piece of :1

violin or the like, of a string engaging pin located adjacent one side of the tail piece and within the ends thereof substantially in transverse alinement with the terminals of the other strings and operating means for said pin embodying an adjusting stem presenting a head symmetrically located with reference to the tail piece substantially at the transverse center thereof.

3. The combination with a tail piece of a violin or the like, of a string engaging pin located longitudinally within the end of the tail piece, and means engaging said pin to tension the string arranged to exert a ten sion inward of the tail piece.

l. The combination with a tail piece of a violin or the like, of a bar secured to the under side thereof and extending obliquely inward from the E string side of the tail piece, a bell crank lever fulcrumed to said bar having one arm thereof constituting a pin extending upward to engage the E string, and the other arm thereof extending obliquely rearward under said bar, and a threaded stem engaging the last named lever arm and presenting a finger piece located symn'ietrically with reference to the tail piece substantially at the transverse center thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification ADOLPH J. OETTINGER. 

